Magnetic resistance effect type thin-film magnetic head and method for manufacturing the same
AssigneeRead-Rite SMI Corporation
InventorsMasataka Hosomi, Tatsuo Sawasaki, Kouichi Matsuhashi
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Abstract
A thin-film magnetic head in which has a spin-valve element and a pair of electrode layers that are electrically connected to both ends of the element in the direction of width. A tantalum film is laminated as a protective layer on the uppermost part of the abovementioned element. A pair of electrode layers are caused to overlap on both end portions of the element. The tantalum oxide present in the areas on which the electrode layers overlap is removed prior to the formation of the electrode layers so that the electrical resistance between the electrode layers and the element is reduced.
Claims3
A thin-film magnetic resistance effect type magnetic head, comprising:
- upper and lower shield layers;
- upper and lower gap layers disposed between the upper and lower shield layers, respectively, a structure being disposed between the upper and lower gap layers which includes:
- a thin-film magnetic resistance effect element that includes an upper antiferromagnetic layer;
- a pair of electrode layers, each overlapping and being electrically coupled to an opposite end of the upper antiferromagnetic layer of the thin-film magnetic resistance effect element;
- a pair of magnetic domain control layers disposed on opposite sides of the thin-film magnetic resistance effect element, wherein a spacing between the pair of electrode layers is smaller than a spacing between the pair of magnetic domain control layers;
- and
- a thin protective layer of Ta covering an uppermost part of the upper antiferromagnetic layer between the pair of electrode layers, the protective layer being absent on each opposite end of the uppermost part where the electrode layers are electrically coupled to the upper antiferromagnetic layer of the thin-film magnetic resistance effect element.
A thin-film magnetic resistance effect type magnetic head, comprising:
- a spin-valve element that includes a thin protective layer of Ta laminated on an antiferromagnetic layer;
- a pair of magnetic domain control layers disposed on opposite sides of the spin-valve element;
- a lead overlaid structure that includes a pair of electrode layers disposed on opposite sides of the spin-valve element above a pair of magnetic domain control layers, each electrode layer overlapping and being electrically coupled to a Ta removed surface portion of the end portions of the antiferromagnetic layer, wherein a spacing between the electrode layers is smaller than a spacing between the magnetic domain control layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.